In Partnership with Eves Fund for Native American Health Initiatives and other generous donors we are proud to announce our Male and Female Student Athletes of the year.
This Award is meant to highlight the success of Native Americans with physical disabilities success both in sport and in the classroom. Para sports have been proven to improve outcomes in health, education and employment and the athletes are a great example of its benefits. The awards recognize the students’ hard work and perseverance in overcoming obstacles to achieve their potential, both as athletes and students, redefining the possibilities for individuals with physical disabilities. They were selected for their success in the classroom and in the competitive arena as well as their future potential. These young people are inspiring examples for others to follow and they will be considered ambassadors for the Missions of Tribal Adaptive Organization and Eve’s Fund in Indian Country and wherever their futures take them. The young people selected for the inaugural 2021 awards will each receive a $1,500.00 scholarship and a custom design award plaque, made possible by financial support from Eve’s Fund.
Devyn Kazhe- The 2024 Tribal Adaptive female student-athlete honoree is Devyn J. Kazhe, a 26-year-old member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe who hails from Paguate, New Mexico. Devyn was injured in an automobile crash in 2021, shortly after her 23rd birthday, resulting in complete paralysis from the chest down. She has been training to compete in hand cycling and wheelchair basketball for a year. Devyn will continue participating in these sports at a competitive level when she begins her studies at San Juan Community College in Farmington this fall. Devyn particularly enjoys English classes, reading poetry, and writing. She commented, “The Tribal Adaptive Student-Athlete Scholarship will enable me to further my mission to amplify Indigenous voice and perspective, creating awareness among individuals who may not understand the life or views of a person living with a disability within Indian Country.”
Benjamin Cuevas- Benjamin R. Cuevas is the 2024 Tribal Adaptive male student-athlete honoree. The 29-year-old member of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe from Mesa, Arizona, will transfer to Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, this fall. A former College National Champion basketball player at Phoenix College who has coached pro and college athletes out of Arizona, Ben lost the functioning of his legs following the removal in 2021 of a benign tumor that wrapped around his spine. Ben has been playing wheelchair basketball for a year and is thrilled to be back in the game he’s loved since childhood. Ben’s favorite courses have been psychology and criminology, and he hopes to eventually earn a PhD in psychology and open his own practice. He also hopes to return to coaching basketball. Ben shared, “Thanks to adaptive athletics, I have big goals and aspirations once again. I’m so grateful for this scholarship and for having opportunities in life despite my disability.”